In 2024, the Department of Transport and Main Roads committed to the design and implementation of a Movement and Place policy and Movement and Place guidelines. This policy is designed to improve the places where we access the places in Queensland, and the way that we travel between these places.
Movement and Place is a methodology that uses global best practice to inform how we integrate transport networks and the people within our towns, cities and regional places.
So what does it all mean?
Professor David Levinson, University of Sydney described Movement and Place in an Austroads seminar as:
‘a framework for identifying which roads serve what purpose, recognising that some transport facilities are more about the movement function, and others about the place (land access) function, and that streets themselves act as places and serve multiple modes. The movement and place framework balances the accessibility needs of different types of road users across the network.’
Therefore, ‘Movement’ is about all forms of transport and the ways we get around, and ‘Places’ is about where we leave from, our origin, and where we are going to, like our workplace, our school, to our sports field, or to the theatre!
Movement and Place considers where we live and the way we move more holistically than just the road that we move on. For people who walk, roll and stroll, Movement and Place can be incredibly beneficial in designing and maintaining walkable environments. That’s why we are thrilled to see Transport and Main Roads release this policy as part of their Road Safety Strategy.
Movement and Place aims at using ‘Vision and Validate’ thinking to gain insights and to improve the liveability of our neighbourhoods and transport networks.
The Planning Institute of Australia recently co-hosted a webinar to discuss the policy, chaired by Queensland Walks President Greg Vann. Transport and Main Roads as well as the Office of the Queensland Government Architect presented at the webinar.
We are grateful for the Planning Institute of Australia facilitating the webinar alongside Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AIA), Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, the Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management (AITPM), Bicycle Queensland and Queensland Walks. Also in attendance were the Queensland Walking Alliance members, and members of associated organisations.
The panel looked at a range of important considerations, including population growth, increased network demands, balancing urban and regional needs, and unlocking the potential of improving walkability in Queensland.
Queensland Walks welcomes Movement and Place and looks forward to working with TMR to improve Queensland’s walkability as the policy develops.
President Queensland Walks Greg Vann said “It was a pleasure to Chair the meeting on behalf of our collaborative membership organisations. The webinar was popular and booked out quickly. It was a great opportunity to get an update from TMR as we’re deeply invested in the policy framework and good outcomes for Queenslanders.”
Thank you to all the partners and especially PIA and the Queensland Government.
Watch the webinar
Greg Vann hosts the TMR Movement and Place policy brief webinar, on behalf of the Planning Institute of Australia.
How walkable is your street?
Walk My Street is a handy tool for seeing just how walk-friendly your local environment really is. Rate pedestrian access, walking environment and transport options, then submit your report to get your street on the radar.
